Sweden and Norway, known for their tranquility and high living standards, are increasingly grappling with a rising and alarming issue: gang violence. But, there’s an interesting twist. While Norway experienced only four fatal shootings last year, Sweden recorded a staggering sixty-three fatalities, indicating a stark contrast between the two. But what if Swedish criminal gangs have started penetrating Norway?
“That’s precisely the alarming development,” Norges Justice Minister, Emilie Enger Mehl, acknowledged. Speaking at a press conference, Emilie confirmed that the infamous Swedish Foxtrot network has indeed found its nefarious foothold in Norway.
“The most crucial thing we can do now is to prevent further escalation — restrain criminal networks from expanding in Norway,” .
Emilie Enger Mehl, Norges Justice Minister
Collaboration over Contagion
Emilie, with her Swedish counterpart, Gunnar Strömmer, had an intensive discussion in Stockholm on tackling transborder criminality and enhancing border-adjacent cooperation. Here the goal is to suppress the Swedish gang epidemic from diffusing further into Norway. The strategic meeting marks Emilie’s second visit to Sweden within a short period, the first one being in January during Stockholm’s wave of violence.
But how come Sweden finds itself more embroiled in gang criminality than Norway? Both justice ministers point to one shared perspective: Sweden’s extensive immigration and weak integration.
“There’s undoubtedly a variance and an explanation. Norway and Denmark were at the forefront in identifying the problems and tackling them politically, ”
Gunnar Strömmer, Swedish Justice Minister.
Also, lessons are being taken across borders. The Swedes are observing the functioning of Norwegian youth prisons, while Norway eyes Sweden’s new crime deterrent laws to incorporate into their system.
Effective Measures for Safety
One dialogue sparked among the expatriate community in Sweden is the divide within the country. The stark contrast in the number of fatal shootings compared to neighboring Norway is cause for concern, and one Swedish residents and expats are actively discussing.
Many ponder what could’ve been done differently to prevent Sweden’s gang crime from burgeoning to this extent — enough to spillover to neighboring nations?
“The responsibility for crime predominantly lies with the criminals. Many of the initiatives we are implementing now should’ve been executed much sooner. We are a decade behind the Danish curve”, admits Gunnar Strömmer, hinting at strong measures being put in place hereafter.
To wrap it all up, while Sweden is grappling with its epidemic of gang violence, the concerning advancement of the issue reaching Norway has caused tension and high-level dialogues on the way forward. The focus now? Strengthen cross-border cooperation, adapt each other’s effective strategies, and thwart further expansion of dangerous criminal networks in Scandinavia. With a hopeful note to end on, other countries have successfully reversed the trend, and Sweden could follow suit.
